Oatmeal-machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. H. OORMAGK.

OATMEAL MACHINE.

No. 326,853. Patented Sept. 22, 1885.

Illlll (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

G. H. OORMAGK.

OATMEAL MACHINE. No. 326,853. Patented Sept. 22, 1885.

ihvrrn STATES ATENT @rrrcn.

GEORGE H. OORMAOK, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

OATiVl EAL-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,853, dated September 22, 1885.

' Application filed January 24, 1881. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. CORMACK, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful OatmeaLMachine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines employed in the manufacture of oatmeal, in which knives in connection with a carrier are employed; and the object of my invention is to produce a machine capable of rapidly producing a sectional meal by dividing the grains by transverse cuts produced by sharp-edged cutters. To acc0mplish this I have designed and constructed the machine represented in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an isometrical representation of a machine embodying my invention, in which a portion of the front side of the hopper and a portion of its slotted or grooved bottom are broken away to show its construction and reveal a portion of the periphery of the perforated rim of this machine. Fig. 2 is a plan View; Fig. 3, a front elevation; Fig. 4,21. transverse section on dotted line :0 m of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 a longitudinal vertical section on dotted line 1 y of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is an isometrical representation of one of the cutters, and Fig. 7 an isometrieal representation of one of the guards.

In the figures at A is represented a portion of a disk-in this instance greater than a semidisk-havin g its upper outline portion defined by curved dotted lines z on Fig. 3. From the rear side and center of this disk projects a tubular bearing, B, provided with lateral flanges a, projecting from its opposite sides, fitted with holes at proper intervals adapted to receive suitable bolts, as at I), to fix it in position, as in this instance to a beam, 0, provided for the purpose.

The disk A is recessed on its face side, into which is placed the lower end portion of a vertical plate, D, fixed in position therein by means of suitable screw-bolts, c, which connect it with the disk.

At E is represented a carrying-rim of cylindrical or pulley-like form, connected with a disk-head, 6, provided with a central hub, f, bored to receive the driving-shaft F, on which it is mounted to revolve. The shaft F is fitted to enter and revolve in the tubular bearing B of the fixed disk. The rear outer end of the shaft F is provided with a pulley G, designed to receive a belt to connect it w1th the prime movcr,to impart motion to the machine. The carrying-rim E is provided with periorations h, arranged in parallel rows around the periphery thereof, the several rows belng separated a sufficient distance from each other to enable the perforations composing the same, which latter are arranged at suitable intervals apart, to come between the spaces formed by the division-bars 8. These perforations are of a suitable size to admit hullcd oat-gra1ns endwise, and the rim through which the holes pass is of suflieient depth to receive the oatgrains lengthwise.

At II is represented a central hub fitted to receive the driving-shaft to revolve therein freely. From this hub II radiate arms II, which connect with a flange projecting from the inner surface of a rim-fender, H, of cylindrical or pulley-like form. This cylindrical fender H is fitted to enter the carrying-1; m E snugly. A portion of this cylindrical fender is cut away, as represented at '5, to admit the pin-wheel to engage the perforated carryingrim.

At I is represented a curved bracket, fitted to span the cut-away portion of the fenderrim, and is fitted with feet, as at is, to engage the inner surface of the fender, to which they are securely fixed by means of screw-bolts Z.

At J is represented a wheel of pulley-like form, having its periphery set with pins m, placed in annular rows and at proper intervals therein to engage the perforations in the carrying-rim. The pins projecting from the periphery of the wheel J are of proper size and conformation to engage and enter the perforations in the cnrrying-rim,to dislodge grains or parts of grains that may from any cause remain or stick in the perforations. This pin-wheel is supported to revolve in contact with the-inner surface of the perforated carrying-rim on a bearing-stud, 02, held in position in the curved bracket-support by means of a screw-nut, 0.

The outer portion of the fixed disk A is provided with concentric grooves K, of T form in cross-section, adapted to receive the headed end portions of bolts o, employed, to fix the knives and guards in place thereon. At K are represented cutters formed of two arms, 7 and p, joined to each other, producing a right angle. The arms 12 of these cutters are provided with elongated holes 10, adapted to receive the bolts 0, and theforward inner edges of the arms 19 are of kniie form, produced by beveling their forward outer edges, as at 10"1.

At K are represented guards formed of two arms, r and 1 joined to each other, producing a right angle, the same as the cutters. The arms r of these guards are fitted with elongated holes r, adapted to receive the bolts 0. These cutters and guards are placed on the grooved disk alternately, with the knife-edges of the cutters .in the direction t meet the movement of the carryingrim,i and in such relation thcrto that the knife-edges of the cutters are in working contact with the periphery of the perforated carrying-rim. A guard is placed in the rear of each cutter in contact with its rear edge, and its guard-surface is located at a proper distance from the periphery of the perforated carrying rim to determine the grade of meal produced by the length of the sections out from the grains. The distance of these guards from the periphery of the carrying-rim is varied, or adjusted by means of the holes 7 and pins 0. The cutter in the rear of each guard is placed in such relation thereto as to permit the cut sections to pass outward freely between the cutter and rear edge of the guard. These guards and cutters are preferably placed mainly on the lower portion of the grooved disk, occupying about one-half of a complete circle, inclined to a horizontal plane passing through its center, being above such plane on the side meeting the movement of the carrying-rim, and below such plane on the side in which the movement of the carryingrim leaves the cutter. These cutters and guards thus placed in position and adjusted are fixed in position by means of the screwbolts 0, provided with suitable screw-nuts, by which they are firmly clamped to the disk.

The fender-rim H is held in its relative position with the grooved fixed disk A by means of a connecting-arm, L, having its inner end suitably-fixed to the guard-rim, and its outer end portion adjustably fixed to the grooved disk by screw-bolts r, in the same manner that the cutters and guards are fixed thereto. From this arrangement it will be seen that the location of the pin-wheel relatively with the cutters may be varied.

At M is represented a curved cutter-blade, having its knife-edge placed in working eontact with the carrying-rim at or near the inside of the hopper end on the side, to meet the movement of the carrying-rim. The rear portion of this curved cutter is raised from the periphery of the carrying-rim, to serve as a guard to gage the length of the section to be cut by the cutter in its rear.

At N is represented the sides, and at P the ends of a hopper of box form, having its under edges fitted to the curve of the carrier. This hopper is fixed in position thereon by means of suitable bolts, P, connecting it with the vertical plate I), which rises on its rear side. The bottom of this hopper is provided with vertical lengthwise division-bars s, can ployed to divide the hopper into lengthwise compartments 1 to correspond with the annular rows of holes in the carrying-rim. These lengthwise division-bars are supported in their vertical position by means of transverse Vertical supports it placed between them at proper intervals.

In use my improved machine is placed in connection with the prime-mover by suitable belt-connection or otherwise, to impart motion to the perforated carrying-rim in the direction indicated bythe arrows. The hulled oatgrains are then placed in the hopper, and will enter the compartments formed by the division-bars and engage the perforated carryingrim. This movement will cause the grains to enter the perforations endwise, into which they will descend by the action of gravity upon the individual grains, aided by its action on the mass of grain contained in the hopper, until they reach the inner fender rim. The grains thus contained in the holes in the carrying-rim will be carried by its rotary movement outside of the hopper, in which movement the portion of the grains, if any, projecting from the holes will be cut by passing the knife or cutter in the end of the hopper. The portions of the grain cut by the knife M fall back into the hopper, where they mix with the uncut grain. In the onward movement of the carrying-rim the grain contained in the holes therein will be carried by centrifugal force, aided by gravity, against thefaces of the guardarms, and the onward movement of the rim will cause them to be out against the edge of the cutter next rearward. The sections thus cut will be discharged, through the opening between the rear edge of the guard and the cutter next in its rear. This action will continue until the holes are empty, and again return to the hopper to be filled. In this operation it sometimes happens that grains stick in the holes, and if permitted to remain would accumulate and fill the holes of the carrier and render it inoperative. This, however, is completely obviated by the employment of the pin-wheel rolling in contact with the inner surface of the carrier, and the pins thereof onter the holes in the rim and operate to dislodge adhering grains and clear the carrier before entering the hopper to again receive the oatgrains. In this instance I have placed the pin-wheel to revolve in contact with the inner surface of the perforated carrier; but it may be placed to engage the carryingrim on its periphery at a point opposite the removed or cut-away portion of the fender, whichmay be placed at any convenient point on the inner surface of the carrying rim.

By the use of my improved machine I am enabled from a given quantity of grain to produce a superior quality and larger quantity of sectional meal with greater rapidity than with any other machine known to me.

I claim as my invention 1. In an oatmealcutting machine, the combination, with a cylindrical rotating rim-carrier provided with perforations adapted to receive the grains endwise, of a non-revolving cylindrical rim fender operating to prevent the passage of the grains through the perforated rini, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination, with a perforated rotating rim-carrier and a non-rotating fender, substantially as herein described, of cutters located in working contact with the carryingrim, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore Set forth.

3. The combination, substantially as herein described, of aperforated rotating rim-carrier, a fixed disk provided with concentric grooves, independent cutters, and independent guards independently fixed to the disk in the relative position to each other and to the rotatingperforated carrier, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

4. The combinatiomwith a disk having cutters thereto attached, of a perforated rotating rim-carrier and a non-rotating rim-fender, the perforated rim carrier rotating between the cutters and fender, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

5. The combination,with a disk having cutters and guards thereto attached and a rimfender connected therewith, of a perforated rotating rim-carrier and a pin-wheel located to engage the perforated carrier, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

6. The combination, with the hopper and perforated rotating rim-carrier, of a curved cutter-blade located between the carrying-rim and hopper, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

GEORGE H. CORMACK.

WVitnesses:

J. S. SMITH, A. O. BEHEL. 

